And the devi arrives...
20 Oct 2012 4:24 AM IST
While Calcutta gears up for the most important days in its social calender — Delhi is not far behind. And as rumour has it — festivities are in full swing in Calcutta already with pandal hopping already on most Calcuttan’s agenda. Delhi, however, needs to wait a day more for celebrations to start. Heading over to the Bengali heartland of the Capital — we checked up on how preparations in CR Park are coming along.
Durga Pujas in CR Park have been an important part of the ethos of the place for two decades to count the least. Pujas in Pocket 40 mark their 19th year, the Mela Ground celebrations are on their 37th and one at the CR Park Kalibari is miles ahead with their first puja being held at 1973 [so says the internet] Whew!
Sprawling parks with half-made pandals, idols in place with decorations in progress and hectic activity greeted us as we made our way to the top three pujas in the area — Pocket 40, Mela Grounds and the CR Park Kali Bari. Delhi is gearing up slow but steadily as we are told at every place that celebrations are from Sashti [20 October] onwards — not now!
SC Bhadra, the cultural secretary of the Pocket 40 Durga Puja, is rather upbeat about the celebrations planned for this year as they gear up for the celebrations. The lights are up in the sector and preparations are in full swing. Speaking to Millennium Post, Bhadra says that pujas have changed over the years in CR Park, but the essentail feeling of a baroari pujo [pujas organised by 12 friends, literally speaking] still remains in Pocket 40 with all residents pitching in with equal fervour.
Talking about residents, Bhadra points out that 40 per cent of the residents are non-Bengali, but that has not stopped them from participating with full enthusiasm. Durga Puja in Delhi, as perhaps in Calcutta as well, is stepping over the strict boundaries of being a completley Bengali celebration to something more universal. Since Navratras is a more non-Bengali phenomenon — what better than some awesome Bengali food and good old adda to bring all friends together!
A whole list of artistes and performers are lined up for the next few days, says Bhadra ticking off Bengali Band Dohar, and singers Saikat Mitra and Jayati Chackraborty from the list — Pocket 40 is gearing up full spirit.
The pujas at Mela Grounds boasts of beaing the largest Durga Pujas in north India, and for all those who have visited CR Park earlier during this time will know what kind of crowds the place attracts. Placed extremely conveniently next to Market 2, the Mela Grounds gets the highest footfall in the area.
Joint Secretary of the Puja Committee Sougata Sammadar points out that they are ready to handle the crowd. With security in place and preparations on full throttle — the committe is ready to handle it all. With people pooling in from across the city, it is no longer a Bengali thing he says, but that is never a bad thing.
Sticking to traditions, the idol faces the east and the artist tells us that he’s designed the idol with asura and mahishasura as one — not as separate entities as is the case with most idols. To explain, the Mela Gound idol will have the goddess destroying the buffalo demon and not asura in his male form.
The Kali Bari puja still awaits its idol but the workshop on the mandir grounds is racing against time to complete a host of orders for all across the country. We got a stunning look at works in progress while artists ran pillar to post.
While all of the puja committes have had to deal with the removal of the welcome gates by order Delhi Police [which meant significant losses in terms of money and sponsorship] and pandals must shut by a certain time everyday, CR Park is not to be detterred. Gear up, get ready...Sashti approaches!
Durga Pujas in CR Park have been an important part of the ethos of the place for two decades to count the least. Pujas in Pocket 40 mark their 19th year, the Mela Ground celebrations are on their 37th and one at the CR Park Kalibari is miles ahead with their first puja being held at 1973 [so says the internet] Whew!
Sprawling parks with half-made pandals, idols in place with decorations in progress and hectic activity greeted us as we made our way to the top three pujas in the area — Pocket 40, Mela Grounds and the CR Park Kali Bari. Delhi is gearing up slow but steadily as we are told at every place that celebrations are from Sashti [20 October] onwards — not now!
SC Bhadra, the cultural secretary of the Pocket 40 Durga Puja, is rather upbeat about the celebrations planned for this year as they gear up for the celebrations. The lights are up in the sector and preparations are in full swing. Speaking to Millennium Post, Bhadra says that pujas have changed over the years in CR Park, but the essentail feeling of a baroari pujo [pujas organised by 12 friends, literally speaking] still remains in Pocket 40 with all residents pitching in with equal fervour.
Talking about residents, Bhadra points out that 40 per cent of the residents are non-Bengali, but that has not stopped them from participating with full enthusiasm. Durga Puja in Delhi, as perhaps in Calcutta as well, is stepping over the strict boundaries of being a completley Bengali celebration to something more universal. Since Navratras is a more non-Bengali phenomenon — what better than some awesome Bengali food and good old adda to bring all friends together!
A whole list of artistes and performers are lined up for the next few days, says Bhadra ticking off Bengali Band Dohar, and singers Saikat Mitra and Jayati Chackraborty from the list — Pocket 40 is gearing up full spirit.
The pujas at Mela Grounds boasts of beaing the largest Durga Pujas in north India, and for all those who have visited CR Park earlier during this time will know what kind of crowds the place attracts. Placed extremely conveniently next to Market 2, the Mela Grounds gets the highest footfall in the area.
Joint Secretary of the Puja Committee Sougata Sammadar points out that they are ready to handle the crowd. With security in place and preparations on full throttle — the committe is ready to handle it all. With people pooling in from across the city, it is no longer a Bengali thing he says, but that is never a bad thing.
Sticking to traditions, the idol faces the east and the artist tells us that he’s designed the idol with asura and mahishasura as one — not as separate entities as is the case with most idols. To explain, the Mela Gound idol will have the goddess destroying the buffalo demon and not asura in his male form.
The Kali Bari puja still awaits its idol but the workshop on the mandir grounds is racing against time to complete a host of orders for all across the country. We got a stunning look at works in progress while artists ran pillar to post.
While all of the puja committes have had to deal with the removal of the welcome gates by order Delhi Police [which meant significant losses in terms of money and sponsorship] and pandals must shut by a certain time everyday, CR Park is not to be detterred. Gear up, get ready...Sashti approaches!
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